Discovery Sport Industry Awards Winners Announced

07 Apr 2015

The Discovery Sport Industry Awards took place on 12th February at the Sandton Convention Centre. The star-studded event combines the worlds of sport and business, celebrating those who have made their mark on the sporting industry. See who took home the coveted trophies here.

A star-studded audience of more than 1,200 key figures and celebrities from sport and beyond including Graeme Smith, John Smit, Penny Heyns, John Walland, Rosie Motene and Derek Watts, saw the likes of adidas, EFC Worldwide, Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy, Virgin Active, Cell C and the Absa Cape Epic take home Awards.

Playmakers Sponsorship once again took home the coveted Agency of the Year Award, sponsored by Gallo Images, for a record-breaking third time in a row. In the hotly contested Brand of the Year category, sponsored by Tsogo Sun, it was EFC Worldwide who lifted the Award for a second time.

Cell C claimed Best New Sponsorship for their backing of the Cell C Sharks and adidas again recorded a near-perfect clean sweep of their shortlisted entries. The global sportswear brand won Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition, sponsored by the Solutions Team, for their Two Oceans Marathon support, as well as the Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual thanks to its Orlando Pirates partnership.

Castle Lager’s work with FC Barcelona on the ‘Perfect Partnership’ secured the inaugural Best African Sponsorship Award, sponsored by Worldwide Sports - a new category added to the line-up in 2015 with the aim of building and advancing sport business across Africa.

Highlights of the night included an emotional tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen by longtime friend and former manager Morné du Plessis, who presented Joost with the Deloitte Outstanding Contribution to South African Sport Award, Jessica Motaung’s rousing speech on behalf of her father, Kaizer, who was awarded the Castle Lager Lifetime Achievement Award, and the launch of Discovery’s Rising Star Award, won by Gezelle Magerman.

Managing Director for the Sport Industry Group South Africa, James Monteith said: “The industry is growing so rapidly in South Africa, with these Awards celebrating that growth, and showcasing the incredible events, strategic thinking and world-class activations we’ve come to expect of the industry. Tonight’s shortlisters can be incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved over the past few months, especially considering the stiff competition they faced to make the shortlist.”

“The atmosphere at the Awards was electric, with the winners being celebrated for their outstanding achievements and triumphs over such hotly-contested categories. Our congratulations go to the entire shortlist, as well as all of our Awards winners and every member of this incredible industry.”

The winners of this year’s Awards were selected from a record-breaking number of entries, judged by some of the most respected names in the sport industry, with the entire steering and judging process officiated by the Official Independent Adjudicators Deloitte.